Music fan and author A Furious Devotion: The Life of Shane MacGowan, Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story, and Sex & Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Life of Ian Dury. Elvis Costello book now in progress.https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mwqtf52zrk2tJoin me on Sunday 4 October at Ipswich Book Festival to hear about my biographies of Ian Dury and Shane MacGowan, as well as Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story. Venue - St Stephen’s Church Time - 4pm Tickets on sale here wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/richard… #ipswich #suffolk #punk #books30 Sep 2026 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqtf52zrk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mwlzvbrsxc2uVery sad to hear that Michael Wynn Jones passed away this morning. His passion for Norwich City was unwavering and he was a wonderful ambassador for the club through thick and thin. The directors entrance won’t be the same without him enjoying a cigarette. #norwich #ncfc28 Sep 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwlzvbrsxc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mwbowinwa22cSigned copies of Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story are available here. Read about the legendary label that signed Madness, The Damned, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, The Pogues, Lene Lovich, Jona Lewis and many others! Ahttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/198662136944?var= #vinyl #stiffrecords24 Sep 2026 16:37 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbowinwa22chttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mux7d6j7ms2pI’ll be talking discussing my books about Ian Dury, Shane MacGowan and Stiff Records at Ipswich Book Festival on Sunday 4 October. Book your tickets here https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/richard-balls/ #stiffrecords #ipswich #iandury #shanemacgowan #stiffrecords07 Sep 2026 19:06 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mux7d6j7ms2phttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mvxoyl2gc22rMy sweet rescue dog Sarah exploring Cromer beach today. At the start of this year, she was in a puppy farm in northern China. Now thanks to Slaughterhouse Survivors she is living her best life here in Norfolk. #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #norfolk #collie20 Sep 2026 17:12 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvxoyl2gc22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mvg2fa4c5227At the start of this year, Sarah was in a puppy mill in northern China, and suffering unimaginable conditions. Today she was happily splashing about in a Norfolk river and fetching sticks. Such a happy girl and loving her new life. #rescuedog #norfolk #china13 Sep 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvg2fa4c5227https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mvfnxpliqs27Record fair coming up in Norwich. #vinyl #norwich13 Sep 2026 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfnxpliqs27https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mvbdsgkz6k2kJohn Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy on this day in 1949. Over the years, I have found that his music has stayed with me and landed in a way that no other artist’s has. ‘There’s a place in the leaf/A place in the bow/I’ve found a place for me just now’. #johnmartyn11 Sep 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbdsgkz6k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mvawqqlwcc26Calling fans of Shane MacGowan, Ian Dury and other unforgettable acts from the legendary Stiff Records! I am appearing at Ipswich Book Festival on Sunday 4 October at St Stephen’s Church to talk about all three of my books. Book your tickets here https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/richard-balls/ #ipswich11 Sep 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvawqqlwcc26https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mux7d6j7ms2pI’ll be talking discussing my books about Ian Dury, Shane MacGowan and Stiff Records at Ipswich Book Festival on Sunday 4 October. Book your tickets here https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/richard-balls/ #stiffrecords #ipswich #iandury #shanemacgowan #stiffrecords07 Sep 2026 19:06 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mux7d6j7ms2phttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3muuuounjos25This is Sarah, the little girl I adopted from Slaughterhouse Survivors in China, taking her first swim. We were out for a walk when she saw two dogs swimming after sticks. She went into the water and started barking, so I threw one for her. Made my day to see her so happy ❤️ #norwich #rescuedog06 Sep 2026 20:51 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muuuounjos25https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mutnmetjck2sThis is what Norwich is all about. A free event at @americanlibraryuk.bsky.social in @theforumnorwich.bsky.social listening to the super talented songwriter @amyrigby.bsky.social reading from her book Girl To Country, and joined by her partner Wreckless Eric. Just love her witty lyrics. #norwich06 Sep 2026 09:11 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutnmetjck2shttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mufkm5sgs22qAnother first for Sarah. A trip to the beach and walking on sand! She didn’t know what to make of the sea but she happily splashed through a pool. So proud of this beautiful soul I adopted from Slaughterhouse Survivors in China less than a month ago. #collie #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #norfolk31 Aug 2026 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufkm5sgs22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3muactcjn3c26I was at the Fleadh Mor in Ireland in 1993 on the Sunday - check out the line-up! Shane MacGowan played his first major show with his new band The Popes. Bob Dylan headlined with a full band and was incredible. Van Morrison also did a great set. #ireland #shanemacgowan #bobdylan29 Aug 2026 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muactcjn3c26https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mu4yz3rdws2qExpect stories about Ian Dury, Shane MacGowan, Madness, Elvis Costello and other Stiff Records legendary acts at my Ipswich Book Festival event. Venue - St Stephen’s Church Date - Sunday 4 October Time - 4pm Book your tickets here https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/richard-balls/ #ipswich #suffolk28 Aug 2026 09:04 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4yz3rdws2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtz5atauw22aThree weeks ago I adopted this beautiful soul from Slaughterhouse Survivors in China ❤️ Say hello to Sarah everyone. #internationaldogday #collie26 Aug 2026 20:09 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz5atauw22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtwbc6dc422yHappy 72nd birthday to Elvis Costello. One of my all-time musical heroes. #elviscostello25 Aug 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwbc6dc422yhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtqmnxfals26Cow Tower, Norwich If you’ve never seen it, take the riverside walk from the train station past @norwichcathedral.bsky.social towards Wensum Street. #norwich23 Aug 2026 10:51 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqmnxfals26https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtnu36u3us2aRead about the incredible story of Stiff Records in this book. Expect stories about Elvis Costello, Madness, The Damned, The Pogues, Tenpole Tudor, Lene Lovich, and many more! BUY 1 here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Records-Story/dp/B0D74VW875?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE #books #stiffrecords22 Aug 2026 08:26 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtnu36u3us2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtjwycvkqk2gHow have I never seen The Courettes before? I saw them last weekend at the Suffield Summer Fiesta and was blown away by them. #thecourettes #norfolk20 Aug 2026 19:07 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjwycvkqk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mtbx26q3dk2zOMG!! I have a new favourite live band. Check out Oh! Gunquit whipping the crowd into a frenzy at the Suffield Summer Fiesta yesterday in north Norfolk. A blistering set of surf rock/garage punk that blew the place apart. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #norfolk #ohgunquit #festival17 Aug 2026 14:47 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtbx26q3dk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mt4qwyoxq22rTo celebrate 50 years of Stiff, here’s my interview with Mark Bedford from @madnessmusic.us from earlier this year. https://youtu.be/5yilmFXaOMU?is=6ecvJzs3x7J7cmcB #stiffrecords #madness15 Aug 2026 13:15 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt4qwyoxq22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mt4bi3tgg22tThanks to everyone who came out to Cromer Community Centre on a hot night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stiff Records. Superb questions from Andrew Brammer and an enthusiastic audience, and lots of signed books snapped up. A very enjoyable night. #stiffrecords #cromer #norfolk15 Aug 2026 08:38 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt4bi3tgg22thttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mt26leb6622vTo celebrate Stiff’s 50th birthday, here is my interview with Bruce Thomas from Elvis Costello & The Attractions from earlier this year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vvnQuFNX0r8 #elviscostello #stiffrecords14 Aug 2026 12:41 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt26leb6622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3mszohm4e6223Happy 50th birthday to Stiff Records, the legendary independent label that tore up the industry rulebook and made records and music fun. What are your favourite Stiff singles and albums of all time? #stiffrecords #records #vinyl #elviscostello #iandury #punk #thepogues #madness14 Aug 2026 07:52 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mszohm4e6223https://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3msyaxcajpk2gCelebrate 50 years of the legendary Stiff Records with me at Cromer Community Centre on Friday 14 August. Get your tickets here wegottickets.com/f/17178 #cromer #stiffrecords #norfolk13 Aug 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyaxcajpk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/musicbiographer.bsky.social/post/3msvrfic4vk2jIf you’re in north Norfolk on Friday 14 August, join me at Cromer Community Centre to roll back the years and celebrate Stiff Records on its 50th anniversary. Expect stories about The Damned, Madness, Elvis Costello and more. Book tickets here wegottickets.com/f/17178 #norfolk #cromer https://wegottickets.com/f/1717812 Aug 2026 18:34 +0000at://did:plc:slxcogdtvlmlacehju3sw5cs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvrfic4vk2j